Tobacco feeding apparatus



June 24, 1941. D. w. MOLINS TOBACCO FEEDIIYNG APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fiz zren 307's June 24, 1941.

D. W. MOLINS- TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS- Filed Au 15, 1958 2 sheet -Shae: 2

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Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,246,892 l V V TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS Desmond Walter Molins, Deptford, London, Eng- 7 land, assignor to Molins Machine Company Limited, Deptford, London, England Application August 15, issaiseriaiiv 225,013 In Great Britain September 2, 193? 5 Claims. -(Cl.1'31--109) This invention is for a method of and apparatus for feeding tobacco to mechanism for'forming a continuous tobacco filler.

When forming a continuous tobacco filler it is desired thatthe mass of the filler shall be substantially uniform, and, as is well known, the uniformity of the filler is affected by the uniformity of the mass of tobacco fed to the mechanism for forming the continuous filler. The tobacco which is fed to the mechanism for forming the continuous filler is usually extracted from a mass of entangled tobacco contained in a hopper, being removed therefrom by a carded surface, usually by a carded roller. The tobacco is evened out upon the surface of the carded roller by passing the tobacco beneath a brushing roller or rollers and is picked from the carded roller by a fast rotating picker roller and showered on to the surface of a further conveyor, which further conveyor also usually comprises a carded roller. By showering the tobacco on to the second conveyor the tobacco is more evenly distributed over the surface of the second conveyor than it was on the surface of the first conveyor which received the tobacco from the mass in the hopper. Sometimes the tobacco from the second conveyor is picked therefrom by a further fast rotating picker roller and spread over the surface of a still further conveyor. Usually, however, the secondfast picker roller picks particles of tobacco from the second conveyor and throws such picked particles downwardly through a chute so that the picked tobacco is showered on to a conveyor moving in a trough at the bottom of the chute, which conveyor carries the tobacco towards the mechanism for forming a continuous tobacco filler. The picker which showers the tobacco on to the conveyor moving in the trough at the bottom of the chute is usually termed the final picker, and the term final picking when used herein means the usual final picking on previous machines in which a picker picks particles of tobacco in as far as possible separated shreds and throws such picked tobacco as a shower through the chute.

It is desirable that the strands or shreds of tobacco shall be retained in as long a condition as possible, but it is known that each picking operation breaks the tobacco shreds to some extent and that it is desirable to reduce as far as possible the number of picking operations to which the tobacco is subjected.

It is' the object of the present invention to avoid the final picking operation which deposits the tobacco on the conveyor moving in the trough atthe bottom of the chute, thereby to reduce the breakage of the shreds of tobacco which would be occasioned by the final picking a plurality of trough-like receptacles transversely of their length in succession beneath a downwardly directed shower of tobacco whose width extends substantially along the length of the receptacles and whose length extends in the direction of movement of the receptacles, the

tobacco being showered at such a rate relatively to the speed of movement of the receptacles that a receptacle contains a substantially uniform strip of tobacco after passing "along the length of the shower and receiving tobacco from successive points along the shower and directing the "strips of tobacco so formed towards the continuous tobacco filler forming mechanism without subjecting the strips to a final picking. The tobacco may be showered at such a rate relatively to the speed of movement of the reoepta'cles' that the mass of a strip formed in a receptacle is below the desired mass of the tobacco filler.

The expression "continuous tobacco filler when used herein means a rod-like stream of tobacco of a cross-section comparable with that included within a wra per (for example, a paper wrapper of a cigarette) which is finally to contain the filler, which rod-like stream is continuously moved axially of itself.

' Where throughout the specification the term mass is used it shall mean weight per unit length considered lengthwise of the filler or of a strip, and the term desired mass shall be taken .tomean the weight or substantially the weight per unit length which it is desired that the continuous tobacco filler shall have.

The term strip or strip of tobacco when used herein means a strip-like mass of loose tobacco shreds or particles, the length of such strip being greater than the width or the depth of the strip. By loose it is to be understood that the shreds are unwrapped.

Further, according to the invention there is provided apparatus for feeding tobacco to mechanism for forming a continuous tobacco filler,

comprising a plurality of trough-like receptacles of the receptacles and spaced apart from one another in the direction of movement of the receptacles, said surfaces being so arranged as to' direct tobacco from the-shower into; there? ceptacles.

An intercepting device may be disposed above a conveyor arranged to feed the strips lengthwise to the mechanism for forming the tobacco filler,

said device being operative in timed relationship with the movement of the receptacles and arranged to receive the tobacco comprising a strip delivered by a receptacle and to deliver a strip on to said conveyor prior to the next succeeding i'strip being intercepted.

The invention will be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of tobacco feeding mechanism.

Figure 2 shows part of the mechanism of Figure 1 and is drawn to an enlarged scale.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a mass of tobacco is contained in a hopper H], which hopper may be replenished automatically at predetermined intervals in the manner described in United States Patent specification No. 1,955,012 from a reserve hopper ll adjoining the hopper ID. The tobacco in the hopper I is moved by a carded feeding the tobacco is picked from the roller l3 by the fast rotating picker roller [1.

The trough-like receptacles l8 are formed by angle elements secured to the periphery of an intermittently rotated roller 2| whose axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the axes of rotation of the fast rotating picker roller [1 and the carded roller l3, and the angle elements 20 are arranged so as to be substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the roller 2|. To reduce the tendency of tobacco shreds or particles to lodge on the tops of the angle elements 20 roller l2 towards a further carded roller IS the carding of which receives tobacco from the mass contained in the hopper I 0 and moves the tobacco so received in an upward direction and beneath a carded brushing roller M which removes surplus tobacco from the surface of the roller l3. In order that the carding of the roller l3 may be as uniformly filled as possible, a small mass of tobacco is maintained in the junction formed between the co-operating surfaces of the roller l3 and the carded brushing roller I4, and the small mass of tobacco is maintained in a substantially free condition by a raking device 15 which periodically engages the small mass of tobacco and loosens the tobacco comprising the small mass. The raking device is also arranged to sweep over the surface of the carded roller I3 thereby regulating the quantity of tobacco which is fed upwardly to the small mass of tobacco. A pressing device it is arranged periodically to press the small mass of tobacco against the surface of the carded roller l3. The operation of the raking device l5 and pressing device I6 is described in United States Patent specification No. 1,962,036.

After passing the carded'brushing .rollerM, tobacco carried by the carded roller [3 ispicked from that roller by the pins of a fast rotating picker roller I! which directs the tobacco downwardly in the form of a shower of tobacco towards a plurality of trough-like receptacles 18 arranged to receive the showered tobacco. A comb i9 of known construction is provided to press the tobacco against the surface of the carded roller l3 adjacent the position at which there is provided a plurality of moving surfaces,

which moving surfaces comprise rollers 22 disposed in the path of the shower of tobacco and located adjacent the path of the open ends of the receptacles. The rollers 22 are spaced apart from one another in the direction of movement of the receptacles and are rotated at a high speed in a manner such that whilst the top of an angle element is passing beneath a roller 22 there is relative movement between the roller and the top of an angle element and the rollers 22 are arranged to engage the tops ofgthe angle elements, thereby removing" particles of tobacco which may be lodged thereon. At the same time the angle elements act as scrapers and serve to remove from the rollers 22 particles of tobacco which-may be adhering thereto. The rollers 22 also tend to direct tobacco from the shower into the ireceptacles. V

The width of the downwardly directed shower is arranged to extend along the length of the receptacles l8 and the length of the shower extends in the direction of movement of the receptacles. The rate at which the tobacco is showered towards the receptacles relatively to the speed of movement of the receptacles is such that a receptacle passing along the length of the shower receives tobacco from successive points along the shower and after passing from beneath the shower the receptacle has, formed tl1erein,'a substantially uniform strip of tobacco. 'Therate at which the tobacco is showered relatively to the speed of movement of the receptacles is preferably so chosen that the mass of the strips formed in the receptacles is below the mass which it is desired that the continuous tobacco filler shall have. I

After the strips have been formed in the receptacles in the manner above described they are delivered from. the receptacles towards the filler forming mechanism, each strip being received by a conveyor 23 moving in a trough 24. The conveyor 23 is continuously moved in one direction and may comprise an endless, band or a Web of cigarette paper. The strips of tobacco which are delivered to the conveyor 23 are --m.ovied lengthwiseby the conveyor to the filler forming mechanism. Thefiller forming mechanism may be arranged to operate as described in applicants United States Patent No. 2,149,924, dated March '7, 1939, and when the filler forming. mechanism is so arranged to operate the tobacco is showered at a rate relative to the speed'o'f movement of the receptacles such thatthe mass of a strip formed in areceptacle is below the desired mass of the tobacco filler.

Preferably the speed of rotation of theroller 2! in relation. to thespeed of the conveyor 23 is such that during.the timegoccupied, by a given point on the conveyor moving a distance equal to the length of the receptacles, a plurality of strips, for example, four strips are delivered tolthe conveyon. In'sucha case the mass of the four comprising picker means to shower tobacco; from asses-m, a plurality of" trough-like receptacles stripsisw below the desired mass. of the tobacco filler. I

.The strips are retained in the rdceptadles while the latter arei'moving the strips: to: the position: at which. the strips are delivered from the receptacles by a guidev 25 which. conforms with. the path through. which the receptacles are moved, and which retains the strips within the receptacles until they arriv at a position at which the strips are permitted to leave the receptacles and. are received by the conveyor 23. The guide 25 comprises an endless band which, as is indicated in the drawings, is arranged so that that part of the guide which acts to retain the strips in th receptacles is movable in the same direction as the direction in which the receptacles are being moved. The surface speed of the endless band is preferably equal to the peripheral speed of the outer ends of the angle elements 20.

Each strip as it is delivered from its receptacl is received by an intercepting device 26 comprising a stationary wall 21 and a movable wall 28 having a bottom 29. The walls 21 and 28 together with the bottom 29 form a compartment into which the whole of the tobacco comprising a strip is received. The movable wall 28 is fixedly connected to a bracket 30 and 3| connected to a support 32 which is pivoted at 33. A cam 34 operative in timed relationship with the drum 2| engages a cam follower 35 on the support 32 and is arranged to open and clos the intercepting device. A spring 36 is provided to maintain engagement between the cam 34 and the follower 35.

By means of the intercepting device 26 the whole of the tobacco comprising a strip can be delivered to the conveyor 23 at one time, thus substantially preserving the formation of the strip.

As stated above, the drum 2| is intermittently rotated and this rotation is obtained by reason of two cams 31 and 38 which respectively operate a feed pawl 39 and a locking pawl 40. As the cams 3'! and 38 rotat the cam 38 is arranged to lift the locking pawl 40 out of the teeth of the locking wheel 42 by turning the pawl 40 about its pivot I40. Further rotation of the cams causes the feed pawl 39 which is pivoted to a lever |39 which is in turn pivoted at I40, to feed the ratchet wheel 4| forwardly and so rotate the drum 2|. The pawls 39 and 40 respectively are urged towards the wheels 4| and 42 by springs MI and I42. A safety pawl 43 is also provided. The ratchet wheel 4| and the locking wheel 42 ar each secured to the shaft 44 on which the drum 2| is mounted.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In tobacco feeding apparatus, mechanism to form a downwardly directed shower of tobacco, a carrier rotatable beneath and extending lengthwise of the shower, a plurality of trough-like receptacles mounted on said carrier to receive tobacco from said shower, and a plurality of rotatable rollers disposed adjacent to the path of the open ends of the receptacles, said rollers being disposed in th path of the tobacco shower and so arranged that the peripheral surface of the rollers engage the edges of the open ends of the receptacles to keep said edges clean.

2. For use with continuous tobacco filler forming mechanism, tobacco feeding mechanism arranged: to be moved transversely of? the axis of said picker means in succession to intercept the showered tobacco, the" picker means being arranged: to' form a shower whose width extends substantially aiong- .the length of the receptacles and whosealerrgtlr exceeds the width of at least two receptacles, thereceptacles being-of" such a width that a plurality of receptacles receive tobacco simultaneously from different parts along the length of th shower, and means for retaining the tobacco in the receptacles after they have passed out of the zone of the shower and until they reach the point of discharge.

3. For use with continuous tobacco filler forming mechanism, tobacco feeding mechanism comprising picker means to shower tobacco from a stream, a plurality of receiving means having upwardly exposed edges arranged to be moved transversely of the axis of said picker means in succession to intercept the showered tobacco, the picker means being arranged to form a shower whose width extends substantially along the length of the receiving means and whose length exceeds the width of at least two such receiving means, the receiving means b ing of such width that a plurality thereof receive tobacco simultaneously from different parts along the length of the shower, and means for retaining the tobacco in the receiving means after they have passed out of the zone of the shower and until they reach th point of discharge, the rate at which the receiving means move through the shower being such that the weight of each tobacco strip formed in a receiving means, per unit of length, is below the desired weight, per unit of length, of the continuous tobacco filler to be formed.

4. For us with continuous tobacco filler forming mechanism, tobacco feeding mechanism comprising picker means to shower tobacco from a stream, a plurality of receiving means having upwardly exposed edges arranged to be moved transversely of the axis of said picker means in succession to intercept the showered tobacco, th picker means being arranged to form a shower whose width extends substantially along the length of the receiving means and whose length exceeds th width of at least two such receiving means, the receiving means being of such width that a plurality thereof receive toloacco simultaneously from different parts along the length of the shower, means for retaining the tobacco in the receiving means after they have passed out of the zone of the shower and until they reach the point of discharge, and elements disposed adjacent to the path of said receiving means, said elements having moving surfaces adapted to engage the upwardly exposed edges of said receiving means to keep said edges clean.

5. For use with continuous tobacco filler forming mechanism, tobacco feeding mechanism comprising picker means to shower tobacco from a stream, a plurality of receiving means having upwardly exposed edges arranged to be moved transversely of the axis of said picker means in succession to intercept the showered tobacco, the picker means being arranged to form a shower whose width extends substantially along the length of the receiving means and whose length exceeds the width of at least two such receiving means, the receiving means" ceive tobacco simultaneously from difi'erent parts along the length of th shower, means for retaining the tobacco in the receiving means after they have passed out of the zone of the shower and until they reach the point of discharge, and' elements disposed adjacent to the path of said receiving means, said elements hav.

ing moving surfaces adapted to engage the .up-

.4- aemaoz being of such width that a plurality thereof rewardly exposed edges of said receiving means to keep said edges clean, the rat at which the receiving means move through the shower being V DEsMoND WALTER MOLINS. 

